Eberechi Eze takes Arsenal four clear at the top of English Premier League

The Premier League's latest round delivered high drama across England as Arsenal strengthened their grip on top spot while defending champions Liverpool's nightmare campaign continued.

At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal 1–0 Crystal Palace proved to be a case of poetic justice. Eberechi Eze, facing his former club for the first time since his summer transfer from Selhurst Park, struck the only goal of the game in the 39th minute. Gabriel Magalhães flicked on Declan Rice's deep free kick, and Eze met the loose ball with a precise half-volley that flew past Dean Henderson.

It was Arsenal's 11th Premier League goal from set pieces this season—more than any other team—and underlined Mikel Arteta's tactical mastery in dead-ball situations. The clean sheet marked Arsenal's fifth in succession across all competitions, with goalkeeper David Raya earning his sixth clean sheet of the campaign.

The victory moved Arsenal to 22 points from nine matches, opening up a four-point gap over second-placed Bournemouth and extending their advantage over Manchester City to six points after City's defeat.

Aston Villa 1–0 Manchester City at Villa Park proved costly for Pep Guardiola's title ambitions. Right-back Matty Cash unleashed a brilliant first-half strike from the edge of the area in the 19th minute, and Villa's defensive discipline held firm for the remainder. Erling Haaland, who had scored in 12 consecutive matches across all competitions, was kept off the scoresheet for just the second time this season. The defeat left City six points behind Arsenal and marked their third loss in nine games.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's title defense collapsed further. Brentford 3–2 Liverpool saw the Bees claim a deserved victory at the GTech Community Stadium through goals from Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, and Lyle Foster. Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez scored late consolation goals, but Liverpool's defensive frailties—particularly in set pieces—proved fatal. The loss marked Liverpool's fourth consecutive Premier League defeat, their worst run since 2017, and left them seven points off the pace on 15 points.

The standout display of the weekend came at Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium, where Tottenham Hotspur 3–0 Everton made history. Spurs became the first visiting team to win at Everton's new ground, dismantling David Moyes' side with clinical set-piece execution.

Dutch defender Micky van de Ven was the unlikely hero, scoring two headers from corners—the first in the 19th minute and the second in first-half stoppage time. Van de Ven now has five goals in 14 matches under manager Thomas Frank, despite failing to score at all last season. Pape Matar Sarr added a third with a header in the 89th minute to seal a comprehensive victory.​

The win lifted Tottenham to third place with 17 points, showcasing Frank's transformation of Spurs into a set-piece powerhouse under the guidance of coach Andreas Georgson.

Bournemouth 2–0 Nottingham Forest saw the Cherries climb to second place thanks to Marcus Tavernier's spectacular olimpico—a goal scored directly from a corner in the 25th minute—and Eli Junior Kroupi's long-range strike. The win marked Sean Dyche's first Premier League match in charge of Forest, which ended in defeat.

Manchester United 4–2 Brighton gave Ruben Amorim his third consecutive league victory, with Bryan Mbeumo scoring twice and Matheus Cunha netting his first United goal. Danny Welbeck's free kick and a late Charalampos Kostoulas header made things nervy, but Mbeumo's second in stoppage time sealed the points.​

Newcastle United 2–1 Fulham saw captain Bruno Guimarães score a dramatic 90th-minute winner after substitute Will Osula forced a save. Jacob Murphy had earlier given Newcastle the lead before Sasa Lukic equalized.​

In heartbreaking fashion, Burnley 3–2 Wolves saw Lyle Foster strike a 95th-minute winner at Molineux, condemning bottom-placed Wolves to their ninth match without a win. Wolves fans chanted "sacked in the morning" at manager Vitor Pereira after the final whistle.

Chelsea 1–2 Sunderland provided Saturday's shock as newly promoted Sunderland claimed a 94th-minute winner through Chemsdine Talbi at Stamford Bridge. The victory moved Sunderland to fourth place with 17 points—level with Tottenham and ahead of both Manchester clubs.​

As October closes, Arsenal appear composed and commanding atop the Premier League. With Liverpool reeling from four straight defeats, Manchester City stumbling, and surprise packages Sunderland and Bournemouth maintaining their momentum, the 2025–26 title race remains tantalizingly unpredictable—yet increasingly Arsenal's to lose.

Eberechi Eze - Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images